Anger as plan for housing across the Park End Estate is given the go-ahead

8 Feb 2014 11:32

An opposed bid to build homes on two Middlesbrough green sites has been given the green light – but a third was thrown out

Park End children who were protesting about the plans to build houses in green areas on the estate

An opposed bid to build homes on two Middlesbrough green sites has been given the green light – but a third was thrown out.

Efforts to build 24 low-cost homes across the Park End Estate drew objections from at least 65 residents. But Middlesbrough Council’s planning committee approved plans at yesterday’s meeting.

Residents claimed people in the the homes would be made to live “like battery hens” and that there are better sites available for the affordable homes.

But councillors voted unanimously to approve the application from Middlesbrough-based Erimus Housing, which plans to start the work later this month.

The company has been told they can build 16 homes on Corsham Walk and eight on Penrith Road. A third application to build eight properties on Royston Avenue was refused permission.

Residents believe the new developments will leave children with nowhere to play.

Campaigner Donna Jones, 44, of Barnford Walk, which lies opposite Corsham Walk, attended the meeting and said she was sickened by the lack of thought that has gone into the planning.

She said: “We have been fighting this for almost two years now and it just feels like a kick in the teeth.

“If this wasn’t sprung on us just this week, I am sure we could of been better prepared and residents could have attended the meeting yesterday.

“I plan to challenge the schools regarding allocated space for new pupils.

“I was told the schools in the area are already fit to burst and that’s before we get new residents in. We are just forgotton about.”

A petition signed by 39 residents strongly opposed plans to build houses on Royston Avenue with residents stating children would be deprived of a safe place to play.

Existing access to parking was also a major concern.

Speaking at the meeting, councillor Francis McIntyre said: “I am happy to support both Corsham Walk and Penrith Road applications.

“But looking at the site on Royston Avenue I can say that the site is just not big enough to build the houses on. Also, the space in terms of roads and parking access, there was not enough room, it was far too small and cramped. It is for that reason I feel I could not support the third application.”

Protester and Middlesbrough Park End councillor Kevin Morby, who has lived in Park End for 57 years, said he is disappointed with the “lack of interest” from residents in the fight against houses being built on their doorstep.

He said: “We have been told the building work will go ahead due to the lack of protest from residents and unsatisfactory reasons.It just goes to show the lack of community spirit around the town, and I allege every other ward in the town are suffering the same.”

Erimus was unavailable for comment last night.

Egypt’s press downgraded from ‘partly free’ to ‘not free’

“Journalists are never supposed to become the story,” wrote Al-Jazeera correspondent Peter Greste, in a letter smuggled out of Cairo’s Tora Prison. Yet that is just what has happened to the award-winning Australian journalist, who was arrested along with two Egyptian colleagues, Mohamed Famy and Baher Mohamed, on 29 December.

The journalists have been detained for allegedly holding illegal meetings with the Muslim Brotherhood. The Islamist group, which until July’s military coup was the majority in the country’s democratically elected government, has been labelled a terrorist organisation by Egypt’s interim government.

Greste’s incarceration has made worldwide headlines, with even Barack Obama weighing in to call for his release. But it represents just the tip of the iceberg. Last week, Egyptian prosecutors said that they would be bringing criminal charges against 20 people working for the Al-Jazeera network. The journalists are charged with conspiring with a terrorist group and spreading false images, after they covered last year’s clashes in Tahrir Square. “We make no apologies for telling all sides of the story, and we stand by our journalism,” the broadcaster has said.

According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, there are currently at least 10 journalists imprisoned in Egypt with the real figure likely to be closer to 20 or 25. Such an unprecedented crackdown on Al-Jazeera, an international media organisation, does not bode well for the treatment of local journalists.

The clampdown on press freedom under the military-backed interim government has led some observers to draw unfavourable comparisons to the dictatorship of Hosni Mubarak, who was ousted in 2011.

The current regime’s clampdown began immediately after Mohammed Morsi, the Muslim Brotherhood president, was forced out of office on 3 July. That night, five television stations went off air: the Muslim Brotherhood-run Misr25, as well as four pro-Morsi Islamist stations. Police handcuffed around 200 employees and confiscated equipment and phones. Employees were interrogated, and 22 journalists imprisoned overnight on accusations of conspiring to overthrow the regime.

While this censorship was initially tightly focused on elements of the media that support the Brotherhood, there are signs – not least, the targeting of Al-Jazeera – that media across the political spectrum is under threat. The transitional government has spoken about introducing a journalistic code of ethics, which would in all likelihood enshrine intervention and oversight by the authorities.

At times, the clampdown on the media has bordered on the farcical. In early January, an advertisement for Vodafone Egypt featuring a popular puppet, Abla Fahita, triggered an investigation after allegations that the puppet was transmitting secret messages to Muslim Brotherhood supporters about a bomb attack. A Facebook page supporting the Egyptian security apparatus and calling for the puppet masters to be arrested quickly gained 600,000 followers. But despite the absurdity, this gives some indication of how polarized a setting Egypt has become. This intense antagonism between pro- and anti-government forces plays its own part in undermining unbiased reporting of events. International journalists reporting on events in Cairo have spoken of the risk of mob violence from angry crowds accusing them of an affiliation with Al-Jazeera or with terrorism.

Freedom House has downgraded Egypt’s ranking from “partly free” to “not free”. It said that this was “due to officially tolerated campaigns to intimidate journalists, increased efforts to prosecute reporters and commentators for insulting the political leadership or defaming religion, and intensified polarization of the pro- and anti-Muslim Brotherhood press, which reduced the availability of balanced coverage.”

While the situation has escalated under the transitional government, press freedom was already on the slide under Morsi. His government issued a decree in August banning the pretrial detention of journalists, but it also repeatedly pursued critics on defamation charges. According to the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information, at least 24 criminal cases were filed for insulting the president during the six months after Morsi’s election. That is significantly more than under Egypt’s previous presidents. This no doubt contributed to the increasingly antagonistic and polarized atmosphere that prevails today.

Responding to growing international criticism, the Egyptian foreign minister said that the government was committed to “all peaceful ways of expression under the constitution and law”. He added that all media – including the international media – were “welcome”, but he stuck to the government’s defence of the crackdown by sayig that “it is no secret that Egypt faces a terrorist threat”.

In the letter sneaked out of Tora prison, Greste spoke of a change in his perspective. “I have sought, until now, to make the authorities understand that this is all a terrible mistake, that I’ve been caught in the middle of a political struggle that is not my own,” he wrote. “But after two weeks in prison it is now clear that this is a dangerous decision. It validates an attack not just on me and my two colleagues but on freedom of speech across Egypt.

“The prisons are overflowing with anyone who opposes or challenges the government. So our arrest is not a mistake, and as a journalist this IS my battle.”

19-year-old man dies in crash on Brotton bypass in East Cleveland

8 Feb 2014 10:26

A 19-year-old man has died following a three car smash on the bypass between Skelton and Brotton

Scene of accident at Brotton Bypass

Police are appealing for information after a 19-year-old man died in a three car smash in East Cleveland.

A man was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving following the fatal crash on the A174 Brotton Bypass at 5pm yesterday (Friday).

Three cars were involved in the collision, a black Vauxhall Corsa, a grey Audi estate and a white Volkswagen Scirocco.

Tragically, one of the passengers in the Corsa, a 19-year-old man, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Another passenger in the Corsa, an 18-year-old woman, was taken to hospital, where she is in a stable condition.

The driver of the Corsa, a 19-year-old man, was taken to hospital and treated for minor injuries. He was later discharged.

Cleveland Police say a 19-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving. He will be questioned by police.

A man driving the Audi and a woman driving the Scirocco received minor injuries during the collision.

Police are appealing for anyone who may have seen the collision or who may have information to contact them on the non-emergency number 101.

Boro may consider terraces area to allow fans to stand at Riverside

Boro could consider the possibility of introducing a terraced area to allow fans to stand to watch games at The Riverside – with fans’ groups supporting the idea.

The club has been opposed to the idea in the past, but is likely to look at the implications of a move by the Football League to ask the government to allow “safe standing areas” at Championship grounds.

The Government has agreed to discuss the matter, with a spokesman for the department of culture, media and sport confirming it will talk to the league’s representatives.

A Boro spokesman told the Gazette: “The safety and security of spectators has been and will continue to be a priority for the club.

“The re-introduction of standing accommodation in the Riverside will only be considered if MFC are satisfied that it can be achieved without any deterioration in the standards of safety and security within the stadium, is viewed positively by the majority of fans and can be done cost effectively.

“However, safety and security of spectators are not the only considerations that need to be taken into account.

“Modifications to the stadium structure and new/additional barriers to meet revised standards will require significant expenditure.

“Until the exact design specifications are known, this cost cannot be defined and an assessment made about the overall financial case for the change.

“In addition, the club’s ambitions are to gain promotion and aspire to return to European competition.

“In order to avoid compliance issues with the Premier League, the English FA and UEFA, a harmonised approach to stadia regulations is essential.

“There remain significant barriers to achieving a common understanding across all of the relevant football authorities and therefore the club will struggle to introduce safe standing terraces that will be acceptable in all competitions.

“MFC will continue to contribute to the debate and engage with all relevant parties in order to establish a safe and secure solution that benefits the game of football and that is legally, socially and financially acceptable.”

Fans have backed the idea. John Donovan, of Boro supporters group The Twe12th Man, said: “Standing can make for a good atmosphere, because friends can get together on terraces even if they don’t buy their tickets at the same time.

“If you are your mates are spread out in seats, the atmosphere can be diluted.

“I’m not sure how it would work at the Riverside. There may be a lot of expense involved. My priority at Boro would not be to change the ground to suit a small section of the fans, but to spend on players to get us into the Premier League.

“But an answer would be to relax the rules to allow fans to stand in some seated areas. I don’t see the problem with that, apart from the occasional grazed shin on the seat in front.”

Red Faction member Stephen Fletcher has first-hand experience of safe standing having lived and gone to games in Germany. He would love to see it introduced at the Riverside Stadium – provided it was financially viable.

He said: “I know the issue of standing is still a very emotive subject with Hillsborough and Boro were the only Championship club to oppose it, but I’m a massive fan of safe standing,” he said.

“We are talking about a new, modern form of standing in modern stadiums, not at crumbling old grounds.

“I used to live in Northern Germany and went to games at places like Hannover, St Pauli and Bremen, so I experienced it first hand when I was over there.

“There is a rail in front and behind, so there is no chance of crushed, and you get an allocated seat so you can choose to stand if you want.

Fletcher is also one of several Boro fans who have experienced standing in the Borussia Dortmund’s infamous Yellow Wall.

He added: “There are a few Boro lads who go to Dortmund games and I was lucky enough to be part of a rocking Yellow Wall at the Dortmund-Schalke derby. A group of Dortmund fans came over here and got to see the Bolton game.”

Rob Nichols, editor of Boro fanzone Fly Me To The Moon, is pleased to see the subject of safe standing back on the political agenda and thinks it is about time it was introduced across the board in English football.

“I would love to see safe standing introduced, definitely – and it’s about time it was addressed again,” he said.

“A lot of people who only go to home games might not realise it, but 60 to 70 per cent of fans who go away stand up throughout the game.

“All due respect to Hillsborough and it is still in the news, but we are not talking about a return to 1989. Football stadiums have moved on a hell of a lot since then.”

Emergency? Not here, says Boro boss after ruling out loan deals

8 Feb 2014 10:15

Middlebrough boss Aitor Karanka has no plans to enter the loan market now that the ‘emergency’ window has opened

Middlesbrough's Manager Aitor Karanka

Aitor Karanka has no plans to enter the loan market now that the ‘emergency’ window has opened.

The Boro boss has declared himself satisfied with his first team squad as things stand.

The emergency loan window opens a week after the January deadline day and this year won’t close until March 28.

“I’m happy with the squad because the thing I wanted at the start of January was a better squad at the end of the month,” said Karanka. “I don’t want to say the players I have at the moment are better than the players that have left, but the squad as a whole is better.

“I wanted just 20 or 21 outfield players in the squad because we had too many people at training.

“The young players who have gone out on loan are better off because they are playing and gaining experience while Lukas Jutkiewicz has the chance to recover his confidence at Bolton and Marvin Emnes is playing in the Premier League with Swansea.

“So they are all happy and the players who have joined us will improve the squad and have a chance to help us over the remainder of the season.”

Boro may choose to take players on loan if they suffer a spate of injuries in one position and may opt to bring in another keeper when Shay Given returns to Aston Villa at the end of the month.

That’s not to say Jason Steele won’t be given a chance to stake a claim when he’s fully recovered from his ankle problem.

Karanka revealed that the young keeper could step up his fitness regime by playing for the under-21 team before too long.

He said: “Jason is training well, our medical staff say he’ll soon play an under-21 game and will be with us as soon as possible.”

South Bank grandmother 'coerced' into £50,000 benefit fraud

8 Feb 2014 10:10

Caroline Foster, who used some of the cash to pay for holidays, was bullied by her husband Teesside Crown Court heard

Teesside Crown Court

A 49-year-old grandmother was “coerced” into swindling more than £50,000 in benefits, a court was told.

Caroline Foster, who used some of the cash to pay for holidays, was bullied by her traveller husband, her defence argued.

The 49-year-old fraudulently claimed £34,244.31 in income support, £9,125.68 in housing benefit and £7,129.93 in council tax.

In total the grandmother falsely received £50,499.92, Teesside Crown Court heard.

Foster told the Department for Work and Pensions and Redcar and Cleveland Council that she was single, although her husband lived with her, the court was told yesterday.

Prosecutor John Gillette said: “There is extensive evidence to demonstrate that Mr Foster was living in the home address.”

Foster, of Keir Hardie Crescent, South Bank, pleaded guilty to three counts of making a dishonest representation to obtain benefits.

Umza Khan, defending, said her client was a “vulnerable individual”, of previously good character, who “fully accepts her offending behaviour and does not seek to minimise it”.

She added that Foster had married into the travelling community and had struggled to be accepted within it. Ms Khan said that her client had been “subjected to a great deal of violence” by Mr Foster who continued to have a “controlling hand” in her life.

She said: “I would argue that she was somewhat coerced into making decisions by Mr Foster.”

The court was told that Foster had begun repaying the money.

Recorder Hilary Manley said: “These benefits frauds were fraudulent from the outset over a significant period of time.

“There were multiple false claims and a significant amount of public money has been paid to you that should not have been.”

She added that an “aggravating feature” was that some money was used for holidays but said she took into consideration Foster’s relationship with her husband.

Foster was given a 12-month prison sentence suspended for two years with a two-year supervision order.

Israeli forces injure and arrest activists while evacuating a Jordan Valley village

Israeli army forces have injured and arrested tens of Palestinian activists on Friday following a raid on the Ein Hejleh village in the southern Jordan Valley.

The Palestinian and international activists said Israeli forces stormed the village after midnight; using sound and smoke bombs and attacked activists and journalists who were covering the Israeli aggression. Several young men were injured and an unknown number were arrested.

The activists set up their encampment on Friday to defend the Ein Hejleh village which Israel had threatened to evacuate and seize.

According to local radio stations; the Israeli forces attacked the nearly 300 to 500 activists and forced them to evacuate the village. Activists said that Israeli forces emptied the village and declared it a closed military area.

Almost two year ago Palestinian activists began to establish villages of tents on land threatened with confiscation; but Israeli forces demolish them and evacuate the protesters by force